Semiautomatic starter control



Dec. 10, 1935.

P. H. MAURER SEMIAUTOAAATIC STARTER CONTROL Filed March 25, 1935 A A A A A A A A A V V V Y INVENTOR BY @qul, H. maur/er ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEMIAUTOMATIC STARTER CONTROL Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,756

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a semi-automatic starter control and more particularly to a starter control of the type in which the starting operation is initiated by the closure of a manual switch such as the ignition switch of the engine to be started, restarting in case of engine stall being secured by opening and reclosing the ignition switch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-automatic starter control which insures continuous cranking until the engine starts and then automatically opens the starter switch. It is another object to provide such a device which after an initial start positively prevents reactuation of the starting mechanism until the ignition switch is opened, and reclosed.

A further object is to provide such a device which requires no additional manual switch nor any special form of ignition switch.

Another object is to provide such a device which is simple and economical in construction and both reliable and efficient in operation.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred form of the invention showing the parts in normal or idle position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a starting system for an internal combustion engine, not illustrated, including a battery I grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to a magnetic starting switch indicated generally by numeral 4 which in turn is connected by lead 5 to a starting motor SM which is grounded at 6 to complete the starting circuit.

The magnetic starting switch comprises a solenoid I which is included in a control circuit comprising the battery I, lead 3, manual switch 8 which may be the ignition switch of the engine to be started, lead 9, lead II and normally'closed contacts I2 and [3, the latter being movably mounted on an armature I llpivoted and grounded at IE to complete the control circuit.

Means responsive to'a running function of the engine, for opening said contacts to cause the starting switch 4 to open, is provided in the form of a solenoid l6 grounded at one end at I! and connected at the other end by a lead l8 to the usual engine driven generator G which is grounded as indicated at I9. Solenoid 16 is arranged ad: jacent the armature l4 whereby energization of the generator when the engine becomes self-operative causes the solenoid to move armature H to open contacts l2, l3.

Electromagnetic lock-out means under the control of the operator are provided for holding open 5 the contacts l2, l3 after an initial start, in the form of a second solenoid 20 also arranged to attract the armature It, said solenoid being grounded at one end at H and being connected by a lead 2| to the lead ll of the control circuit. 10 It will thus be seen that when contacts l2, iii are opened, the circuit of the look-out solenoid 20 which is bridged around said contacts is cut into the control circuit to be energized thereby and maintain the contacts open. The resistance of the circuit of solenoid is arranged to be sufficient to cause substantial deenergization of the solenoid l of the starting switch and therefore cause opening of the starting switch when contacts l2, l3 are open. This may be accomplished 20 by designing the solenoid 20 so as to have sufflcient resistance for the purpose, or a suitable resistance 22 may be inserted in the solenoid circuit.

In the operation of this embodiment of the in- 25 ventlon, closure of the manual switch 8, which may preferably be the ignition switch for the internal combustion engine, completes a circuit from battery I through leads 3, 9,, solenoid 1, lead ll, contacts l2, l3, armature l4 and ground I5 whereby solenoid I is energized and starting switch closed. This completes the starting circuit from battery I through leads 3, 5 to starting motor SM whereby the engine is cranked in the usual manner.

When the engine starts, the generator G builds up and energizes solenoid l6 which attracts armature ll and opens contacts l2, l3. This cuts the circuit of lock-out solenoid 20, including the resistance 22, into the control circuit whereby thesolenoid l is weakened so as to cause starting switch 4 to open, whereas solenoid 26 is sufficiently energized to hold contacts I2, I 3 open. This condition is maintained as long as the manual switch-8 remains closed. In order to secure a restart of the engine, it is merely necessary, to open the manual switch 8, thus deenergizing lock-out solenoid 2|! and allowing contacts l2, Hi to close. Reclosure of manual switch 8 then causes reoperation oi the starting mechanism as above described.

In Fig. 2, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which the intake vacuum of the engine is utilized to cause the initial opening of the control contacts l2, ii. The parts of the 56 starting and controlling circuits in this embodiment of the invention are the same as illustrated in Fig. 1 and are similarly numbered. Armature l4, however, instead of being opened by means of a generator coil, is suitably connected as by means of a link 23 to a piston 24 slidably mounted in a closed cylinder 25 connected as by means of a conduit 26 to tthe intake manifold 30 of the engine to be started. Since the utilization of engine intake manifold vacuum for operating various types of devices is old and wellknown, it is not thought to be necessary to further illustrate the engine structure.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, closure of the manual switch 8 completes the control circuit for solenoid I through contacts l2, l3 whereby the starting switch 4 is closed and cranking takes place. When the engine starts, the intake vacuum generated by the self-operation of the engine causes piston 24 to operate armature l4 to open contacts l2, l3 thus introducing solenoid 20 and resistance 22 into the control circuit. This causes solenoid 1 to be substantially deenergized and permits the starting switch 4 to open. The contacts l2, l3 are thereafter held open by solenoid 20 as long as the manual switch 8 remains closed. It will be understood that the design and dimensions of the vacuum control are so arranged that the control is inefiectiveto open contacts l2, l3 by the slight vacuum generated during cranking. This may be accomplished by making the return spring 21 of the armature I4 sufilciently strong for the purpose, or preferably by the use of a suitable spring 28 above the piston 24.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will 5 be understood that various other embodiments are possible and changes may be made in the proportions and arrangements of the parts with out departing from the spirit of the invention as defined inthe claims appended hereto. 10 What is claimed is: 1. In a starter control for internal combustion engines, a magnetic starter switch, a control circuit therefor including a set of contacts, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine when 16 the engine starts for opening said contacts, and electromagnetic means normally shorted by said contacts for holding the contacts open.

2. In a starter control for internal combustion engines, a magnetic starter switch, a control cir- 20 cuit therefor including a pair of contacts, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine when the engine starts .or opening said contacts, and

a lock-out circuit bridged around said contacts and including means adapted when energized to 25 hold the contacts open, said lock-out circuit having sufllcient resistance to insure the opening of the starter switch when the look-out circuit is cut into the control circuit by the opening of the contacts.

PAUL H. MAURER. 

